Covid-19 puts brakes on a pear-export deal 17 years in the making

After 17 years of trying, South African pear farmers were finally on the brink of a deal to ship their fruit to the world’s biggest buyer. The Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak means they’ll have to keep on waiting. - The Star/ANN

BEIJING/CAPE TOWN: After 17 years of trying, South African pear farmers were finally on the brink of a deal to ship their fruit to the world’s biggest buyer. The Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak means they’ll have to keep on waiting.

South African officials were scheduled to sign a pear-export agreement in China next month, but the plans were put on hold because of the virus, according to Jacques du Preez, general manager for trade and markets at Hortgro, a local industry group. No new date has been set, he said.